Keith Brock, a professional guitarist who splits his time between Los Angeles and Monroe, wants the city to put up $65,000 for another September festival.

The City Council last year authorized $40,000 for the event. Former Monroe economic development manager Jeff Sax said he hoped it would attract 2,500 people, or at least enough to cover expenses for the one-day event.

Instead, fewer than 500 tickets were sold. Organizers ended up spending nearly $50,000. They brought in less than $14,000, including $4,000 from business sponsors.

Chamber Director Annique Bennett said the music festival’s budget did not include money for marketing beyond the event’s website. That made it difficult to sell sponsorships.

Organizers secured just $4,000 in sponsorships from Wal-Mart and Evergreen Health.

Bennett said Brock’s vision also was unclear. She believes it would cost the city $100,000 to successfully execute his ideas in a repeat concert.

The 2013 results don’t support that sort of budget, she said. The event sold 467 concert tickets for $20 each, plus admissions tax. The city estimates up to 700 people attended, including those with comp tickets and children, who were admitted free.

Still, Brock thinks he can attract 2,000 people through better marketing.

“We’re urging the city to vet this thing,” Bennett said. “If the city is going to invest, the event should be well thought out with a mission and purpose.”

Despite the challenges, she said, the show was amazing.

“It was over-the-top wonderful,” Bennett said.

Doug Hobbs, who has event experience through his work at High Road Productions and the Speedway, said the production could have been far less expensive without the wow factor.

“It was top of the line. There’s no doubt about that,” he said. “But when you’re spending taxpayer dollars you have to be diligent.”

Because there still is hope to make the concert an annual festival, Farrell said, the city is exploring asking other producers to make their pitch before again directing money to Brock.

Farrell wants to see a concert business plan before authorizing fresh expenditures. He said his department last year lacked experience with large-scale shows. For future events, they’ll more carefully scrutinize major expenses and insist on better marketing, he said.

The city was able to score $6,500 in donated service. It also saved money by using resources it already had, including staff hours.

“We all worked really hard on this,” Farrell said. “There were a lot of lessons along the way.”

If the council decides not to fund a 2014 festival, both Farrell and Brock said it is unlikely that the event will continue.

Brock said ticket prices could be raised and a parking fee could be added. Many first-time events lose money but later grow into successful endeavors, he said.

Four free concerts already are scheduled at Lake Tye Park this year. The city allows other outside organizations to use its property for events but offers no financial support.

Mayor Thomas said he would prefer to see the money Brock wants for a concert spent elsewhere, such as on street maintenance, or to pay other city bills. The mayor is trying to rein in costs. As things stand now, the city’s 2014 economic forecast shows a struggle to operate within anticipated revenues.

“The question becomes one of sustainability,” Thomas said. “It’s all a matter of choices.”

City staff and Brock are scheduled to present festival details for the council’s consideration at Tuesday’s meeting.

“This event is so special,” Brock said. “I’ve just worked with some really big artists — literally world-renowned musicians — who have expressed interest in being part of the event.”